Self defense when you're not in great shape

[Big Frank]

Last night as I lie in bed in pain I started thinking about what I would do if I got to the point I couldn't rack the slide on my pistols. Whether it was something temporary or permanent, what changes would I have to make? As it stands now both of my hands work well enough but I have arthritis in dozens of joints in my body, and that's never going away. One time I had a 1911 muzzle brake that replaced the barrel bushing. It was long enough that I could push it against a solid object and get the slide fully to the rear, which I've never had to do. I know there are rear sights available for some pistols that can catch against a pocket or something to rack the slide. If anyone who's had a physical problem can tell me what works for whatever kind of problem they had, that would be great. It's nice to know what options are available even if I end up not needing them.

My doctors are being mean to me this week. First I started seeing a neurologist who gave me 2 shots of lidocaine in the back of the head and prescribed some muscle relaxers. The shots stung for awhile but weren't too bad. Lidocaine is acidic and if it's not mixed with something like sodium bicarbonate to buffer it, it can hurt. Today I started seeing an orthopedist who gave me a shot into my shoulder joint. I didn't even ask him what it was but must be some kind of corticosteroid, maybe mixed with a numbing agent like lidocaine. The last time I had an injection like that the pain was back in 3 days, but I couldn't get another shot for 3 months. Today he told me to turn my head away and he sprayed a little Gebauer's Ethyl Chloride on top of the joint, which made it slightly cold. When he stuck the needle partway in it wasn't bad, but when the needle hit bone that really hurt. He said that's how you know it's in the joint. Then he stuck in farther and I had that same bad pain again. When he was done he put a bandage on and prescribed PT. I'm trying to avoid surgery like I had on my other shoulder, which he said is one of the most painful kinds of surgery there is. I remember back then when I was halfway home from the surgery center I was crying, so I can tell you it hurts like hell to get pieces of bone cut out. In the morning I have to get blood drawn because my primary doctor needs to check a couple of things, but that's no big deal. I just sit there and watch the tubes fill with blood until they're done, then I go home and eat breakfast.

[crusader rabbit]

I feel for you, my friend.  I've fought the shoulder pain thing (both sides) for several years.  Docs at the VA recommended a "reverse replacement" on my right side.  I did a little Google-fu and found out that the type of replacement provided more problems than it cured so I declined.  I'm now to the point  where I can't lift anything weighty with my right arm.  Since I'm right handed, that's problematic.  I've had the cortisone shots in my shoulders and they provide a few day's relief.  Since they will only give a shot every 3 months, it's not worth it.

But, to answer your question...  i generally carry a SCCY 9 mm on those days where things are feeling good enough I am confident I can rack a cartridge.  I carry one in the pipe, so it's ready without the time and effort needed to rack it.  On those days when everything hurts, I have a snubby .357 that suits me.  I can deploy that without that much effort.  I carry a pair of speed loaders on those days, and can manage a total output of 18 shots in fairly short order.

Back to the pain management part of this note...  I have been using Copaiba essential oil.  Wife gets it for me from a company called doTERRA.  They are out of Utah.  I put 4 drops in my hand and rub it into my shoulder.  It does quite a bit to reduce the pain.  I started with 3 or 4 applications a day, and am down to just one on most days.  It doesn't cure the problem.  Motility is still an issue.  But, it does a lot to reduce the general level of pain when I'm just sitting around.

There is another topical product that I have had some success with called Sore No-More liniment made by a company called Arenus.  You can get it through Amazon for about $20 for 16 ounces.  It's an herbal liquid that uses an old time remedy based on Arnica.  I find it quite useful for sore hands, elbows and knees.  It doesn't have an obnoxious smell and doesn't bother my skin.

So, in summation: substitute a revolver for the 1911; add some Copaiba oil to your daily routine; spray the joints with Sore No-More several times a day.  And remember, you need to be tough to age gracefully.  So, be tough.

Crusader Rabbit

[les snyder]

once upon a time I was an NRA Basic Pistol instructor, and worked with some older ladies that were very arthritic and had trouble working the slide of an auto loader, but did not like the harder trigger pull of a wheel gun...for one the solution was the Beretta .380 with the tip up barrel (M86?)... she could charge the pistol by just dropping the cartridge in the chamber, and unload the same way... option of thumb cocking or DA pull

for the other (neat lady had been a ferry pilot for P51s and P47s during WWII) I beveled the front sight of a 4" Ruger .22lr to a more snag free Baughman design...she could charge it easily, but had difficulty working the "buttons"... I don't remember exactly but I think it was an early model without the difficult to manipulate bolt release buttons... she carried it without one in the chamber with the difficult to manipulate safety not engaged

[Solus]

Check out Hunter "Nubs" Cayll's FB page...worth using FB just to see the  dauntless man....just "nubs" for hands but he competes well in the shooting sports...

Youj might want to consider some of h is gear mods if your hand use is becoming limited...

https://www.facebook.com/NoHandedShooter/

[Big Frank]

Thanks for the replies. My shoulder popped and cracked a few times today. It doesn't normally do that. Maybe the swelling in my AC joint kept things from moving that much and now the swelling is going down?

When I woke up in the middle of the night to pee I thought, "That's a compensator.", so I must have been thinking about it in my sleep after I said muzzle brake. I had something like this but maybe longer or with different ports. https://www.fusionfirearms.com/1911-colt-style-gov-compensator-barrel-bushing-style-silver

I hope I don't have to start using a revolver because I only have an NAA mini and would have to buy something new. I'd love to open carry the mini just for the LOLs.    I took a look at Arenus and they make Sore No-More liniment for horses and dogs but not people. http://arenus.com/

A Beretta with a tip-up barrel sounds like a good option if I can't rack the slide anymore but it would have to be a used one. They only make a .22 and a .32 now. Having 7 rounds of either one wouldn't exactly fill me with confidence. A friend has a Taurus .22 with a tip-up barrel and had a lot of problems with it. I think it was mag related and don't know if they got it taken care of or not. It looks like they only make them with plastic frames now. I'm not sure that's an improvement. I've read about a lot of people having problems with Taurus pistols but their revolvers seem to be okay. https://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=22P&toggle=tp

I've seen the no-handed shooter before and I hope I never get to the point where I have to start using any of his mods.

[Sponsor]

[crusader rabbit]

Regarding the Sore No-More... It says it's for horses and dogs.  But it works really well on hooman beans.  HazCat turned me on to it and cemented another brick in our friendship fence.  I owe him a bunch.  Deepwater also uses the stuff.

Get past the heavy trigger problems by thumbing the hammer.

Cusader Rabbit

[Big Frank]

I remember reading about people using another horse liniment, DMSO, for sore joints and such too, but an analysis of studies found that it was not significantly more effective than placebo in relieving joint pain. It goes right through your skin and anything you have on your skin when you apply it will too.

[PegLeg45]

Back to the pain management part of this note...  I have been using Copaiba essential oil.  Wife gets it for me from a company called doTERRA.  They are out of Utah.  I put 4 drops in my hand and rub it into my shoulder.  It does quite a bit to reduce the pain.  I started with 3 or 4 applications a day, and am down to just one on most days.  It doesn't cure the problem.  Motility is still an issue.  But, it does a lot to reduce the general level of pain when I'm just sitting around.


Crusader Rabbit

I can second the copaiba oil. I've been using it since CR posted about it last year in another thread. It works on my sore stiff shoulders (that I'm wearing out due to the way I have to get out of chairs using my arms since my left knee don't bend buy 20°). It works for my neck to when it acts up.
This reminds me I need to order some more. 

[Rastus]

DMSO works for some friends of mine. 

Have you tried MSM and Glucosamine Chondroitin?  https://www.swansonvitamins.com/q?kw=arthritis

The glucosamine chondroitin takes several months to have an effect.  I even know of a doctor recommending it for my father-in-law.

If you need an easy slide to pull back you may want to consider the Five SeVen (pricey) or Kel Tec PMR-30.  The PMR 30 is way more affordable if not a bit awkward to carry compared to the Five SeVen.  I like the Five SeVen for carry better than the PMR 30 which I have never carried.  Both good guns though.

Or...go with a 22LR...I like my son's Smith & Wesson M&P in 22LR and it has never failed to fire even with an optic on the slide.

[crusader rabbit]

I remember reading about people using another horse liniment, DMSO, for sore joints and such too, but an analysis of studies found that it was not significantly more effective than placebo in relieving joint pain. It goes right through your skin and anything you have on your skin when you apply it will too.

No DMSO in Sore No-More.  It's essentially an herbal concoction that has worked for man and beast for  years.  The base is witch hazel and the active ingredient is Arnica.  You can get arnica in gels and creams packaged for people at three to four times the price if you are determined to part with your excess cash.  Or, you can get it as Sore No-More and save your dough. 

Absorbine Junior was originally touted as horse liniment until the agricultural community discovered that something which relieved sore muscles in horses might do the same for arthritic farmers.  The arnica stuff works amazingly better than Absorbine Jr.

I agree with your assessment of DMSO.  It is dangerous precisely because it takes anything on your skin into your blood stream and lymphatic systems.  Not a great idea to have deodorant soap residue coursing through your veins.  It has a secondary unpleasant property in that it gives you "garlic breath."  Within minutes after you apply it, you can taste a nasty garlicky yuck in the back of your throat.

Good luck with the pain management.

Crusader Rabbit